This causerie appeared shortly after calls by the Minister of Social Services, Liisa Hyssälä, to require health warning labels on containers of alcoholic beverages. This commentary by Toinen Mies appeared in Helsingin Sanomat last week.
They want to start putting alcoholic beverages in bigger bottles. And why? So that all of the warning stickers will fit on them.
Do Finns drink too much because they are unaware of the harm caused by alcohol? No, they do it because they want to forget all of the other harmful things out there.
Even without the stickers, every Finn knows that alcohol destroys the brain. But if that's the case, why do they keep Einstein's brain preserved in alcohol?
Do you believe in temperance education? - Yes, I do. - So why are you against warning labels on bottles? - In this case, temperance education has been left a bit late.
Do you think that warning labels are completely useless? - Nobody reads them. I wouldn't put them on the side of a bottle. - Where then? - Inside the bottle.
It is touching that the government is taking such good care of us. - Naturally. The alcohol tax brings a nice sum of money into state coffers. - What does that have to do with warning labels? - Well, you can't say the government didn't warn you.
Can alcohol be used correctly? - Yes, for the external treatment of wounds.
What will they warn us about next? Warning labels may be hazardous to your mental health.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 28.8.2006
